Spheres of influence: Bennett Nadeau, mechanical engineer

I got them as a gift when I was in high school. Then there were some incidents where little kids were swallowing them and getting them stuck in their stomachs and they became illegal. I’m glad I got mine before then.

I would just sit and watch TV and play with them for hours. Even now I have them at my desk—I play with them when I’m bored or stuck. They make all sorts of cool shapes. They represent endless possibilities. They are irresistible, these little round magnets. They’re called Bucky Balls.